Les Cités obscures Series by Benoît Peeters, François Schuiten

Young officer, Franz Bauer, is asked by the leaders of Xhystos to visit the mysterious city of Samaris and research the rumors that have been circulating. Several before him had left to explore the city and never returned. After a long journey by Altiplan and Aerophele, Franz reaches Samaris, only to find that the rumors he had heard in Xhystos don t compare to the real secrets held within the walls of this fantastic city... moreYoung officer, Franz Bauer, is asked by the leaders of Xhystos to visit the mysterious city of Samaris and research the rumors that have been circulating. Several before him had left to explore the city and never returned. After a long journey by Altiplan and Aerophele, Franz reaches Samaris, only to find that the rumors he had heard in Xhystos don t compare to the real secrets held within the walls of this fantastic city. His sanity and the fate of the other explorers is at stake in this, the first installment of the now internationally acclaimed THE OBSCURE CITIES graphic novel series. This edition, marking the 30th anniversary of the original English language publication, features an expanded main story, an all-new creator-approved translation, and new coloring. The book also contains the never before published-in-English THE MYSTERIES OF PAHRY, a THE OBSCURE CITIES story, originally published in four different parts, three in the French Comics magazine, A Suivre, from 1987 through 1989, and in the December 1994 issue of Macadam-plus." less

Urbatect Eugen Robick runs into an unusual problem that changes everyone's lives!

The fifth release in Alaxis Press' The Obscure Cities series to be published by IDW brings the award winning graphic novels to readers in English with an all-new translation!Giovanni Batista is a third-class maintainer of the Tower. His section is deteriorating more and more by the day and he has not heard from any of his inspectors or fellow maintainers in months. He makes the decision to go to the base office to file a complaint... moreThe fifth release in Alaxis Press' The Obscure Cities series to be published by IDW brings the award winning graphic novels to readers in English with an all-new translation!Giovanni Batista is a third-class maintainer of the Tower. His section is deteriorating more and more by the day and he has not heard from any of his inspectors or fellow maintainers in months. He makes the decision to go to the base office to file a complaint. While using his chute, he ends up somewhere even higher than his level. He meets Ellias Aureolus Palingenius and the lovely Milena. Together with Milena, he tries to figure out the purpose of the Tower. He finally decides to Climb to the top.The Tower, presented in this new edition, is the fabulous story for the exploration of a deliquescent world, an epic fable to the dimensions of world-building, a fantastic escape full of paradoxes, simulacra, and pretense. Magnificent mastery, invention, poetry, this is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful jewels of the exciting saga of the OBSCURE CITIES. less

Mr. Abeels runs a flower shop about to enter modernity: imagine, through the miracle of plastics, flowers that never fade! His novelty is snatched up by the ambitious city planners of an all-new Brusel... moreMr. Abeels runs a flower shop about to enter modernity: imagine, through the miracle of plastics, flowers that never fade! His novelty is snatched up by the ambitious city planners of an all-new Brusel. No more lack of hygiene! No more dusty old buildings! All is razed and enormous new skyscrapers are erected at blistering speed! Never mind the disruptions and uprootings of people's lives! Abeels falls in love with a renegade woman who fights the extensive redesigns and ends up having to play both sides carefully... This world has been so successful in Europe as to elicit metro stations in Paris and Brussels designed after it! less

The Leaning Girl

The fourth release in Alaxis Press' The Obscure Cities series to be published by IDW brings the award winning graphic novels to readers in English for the first time!Albert Chamisso, a newlywed of just a few weeks to Sarah, begins to have nightmares. Dr. Polydore Vincent helps him to get rid of the nightmares, but a strange side effect of the treatment is that his shadow is in color afterwards. He struggles with this, losing his wife and his job in the process... moreThe fourth release in Alaxis Press' The Obscure Cities series to be published by IDW brings the award winning graphic novels to readers in English for the first time!Albert Chamisso, a newlywed of just a few weeks to Sarah, begins to have nightmares. Dr. Polydore Vincent helps him to get rid of the nightmares, but a strange side effect of the treatment is that his shadow is in color afterwards. He struggles with this, losing his wife and his job in the process. He moves to the outskirts of Blossfeldtstad where he meets the lovely Minna. Together they create a light show that becomes very popular in this bittersweet romantic noir tale. less

Even before fully finishing his degree, the brilliant young Roland is offered a job in the Center for Cartography of Sodrovno-Voldachia. Roland, who must, like his colleagues, live almost like a recluse within the huge center, meets a mysterious young woman whose body seems covered with strange lines which he can barely perceive... moreEven before fully finishing his degree, the brilliant young Roland is offered a job in the Center for Cartography of Sodrovno-Voldachia. Roland, who must, like his colleagues, live almost like a recluse within the huge center, meets a mysterious young woman whose body seems covered with strange lines which he can barely perceive. Soon, the Center is visited by Marshal Radisic, supreme leader of the country, whose expansionist politics leave little doubt as to the goal: all means will be employed to rebuild the "Great Sodrovnia." less

Roland, who has gone up the ranks quickly at the Center for Cartography of Sodrovno-Voldachia, cannot feel but a certain unease as to the renewed emphasis on their work brought about by the ambitious new Marshall of their country. And that girl with what seems to be a map on her lower back... The conclusion to this Cities of the Fantastic story.

Gholam Mortiza Khan comes to Brusel to sell some jewelry, but before the sale can be closed, Khan dies in an accident. Thus begins events sparking an investigation by Mary von Rathen: accumulation of sand in the apartment of Kristin Antipova; accumulation of stones in the house of Constant Abeels and Maurice who is loosing weight by the day. The events have a catastrophic effect on Brusel and time is of the essence... moreGholam Mortiza Khan comes to Brusel to sell some jewelry, but before the sale can be closed, Khan dies in an accident. Thus begins events sparking an investigation by Mary von Rathen: accumulation of sand in the apartment of Kristin Antipova; accumulation of stones in the house of Constant Abeels and Maurice who is loosing weight by the day. The events have a catastrophic effect on Brusel and time is of the essence. Newly translated into English by Ivanka Hahnenberger and Steve Smith, and edited by Steve Smith (translator of The Leaning Girl and The Beauty) and Karen Copeland at Alaxis Press for publication by IDW." less